Photo: JENNIFER WHITNEY, Jennifer Whitney/ Special To The Express-News

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Massimo Carielo, 4, claims the win over his competitor, Krysta Perez, 3, in the under 5 bracket of the Strawberry Eating Contest at the Poteet Strawberry Festival, Saturday, April 14, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY)

Massimo Carielo, 4, claims the win over his competitor, Krysta Perez, 3, in the under 5 bracket of the Strawberry Eating Contest at the Poteet Strawberry Festival, Saturday, April 14, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY)

Photo: JENNIFER WHITNEY, Jennifer Whitney/ Special To The Express-News

Photo: JENNIFER WHITNEY, Jennifer Whitney/ Special To The Express-News

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Rotary Club volunteer Gary Greene places ribbons on the winning flats of strawberries in the Chandler variety category during the strawberry judging at the Poteet Strawberry Festival, Saturday, April 14, 2012. (JENNIFER WHITNEY)

Rotary Club volunteer Gary Greene places ribbons on the winning flats of strawberries in the Chandler variety category during the strawberry judging at the Poteet Strawberry Festival, Saturday, April 14, 2012.

FOR METRO - Michaela Stimpson, 2, (left) and her cousin Ashlee Messick talk with Freckles, the official mascot, Saturday April 2, 2011 during the 64th Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival in Poteet, Tx. PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/eaornelas@express-news.net) less

FOR METRO - Michaela Stimpson, 2, (left) and her cousin Ashlee Messick talk with Freckles, the official mascot, Saturday April 2, 2011 during the 64th Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival in Poteet, Tx. PHOTO BY ... more

Photo: EDWARD A. ORNELAS, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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FOR METRO - John Earnest (left) and Daniel De La O (right) and others cut fajitas for the St. Matthew's Guadalupe Society booth Saturday April 2, 2011 during the 64th Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival in Poteet, Tx. PHOTO BY EDWARD A. ORNELAS/eaornelas@express-news.net) less

FOR METRO - John Earnest (left) and Daniel De La O (right) and others cut fajitas for the St. Matthew's Guadalupe Society booth Saturday April 2, 2011 during the 64th Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival in ... more

Jessica Adame (left) and Clarissa Romo set up a food booth run by Poteet Elementary School and the Intermediate Booster Club. Adame is a kindergarten teacher at the school, and Romo teaches first grade at the school.

Jessica Adame (left) and Clarissa Romo set up a food booth run by Poteet Elementary School and the Intermediate Booster Club. Adame is a kindergarten teacher at the school, and Romo teaches first grade at the

Chance Huschke prepares one of the attractions, a strawberry-dotted cow, at the Poteet Strawberry Festival grounds.

Chance Huschke prepares one of the attractions, a strawberry-dotted cow, at the Poteet Strawberry Festival grounds.

Photo: Michael Miller, For The San Antonio Express-News

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It's strawberry time in Poteet, y'all

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Poteet is celebrating its 66th annual Strawberry Festival this weekend, a venerable spring party where live music, community delicacies and yes, fresh strawberries draw major crowds.

The “Strawberry Capital of Texas” which also happens to be the birthplace of country music icon George Strait, played host to more than 125,000 guests at last year's festival — that's almost 40 times the city's population of 3,260.

The Poteet Rotary Club started the Strawberry Festival in 1948. For the past two decades, the Poteet Strawberry Festival Association has used the money it raises to award scholarships to local graduates. The association itself awards at least 10 scholarships a year, while other non-profit church, school and civic organizations donate scholarships from the funds raised at their food booths.

The festival starts Friday evening at 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday. It includes carnival rides, shows and live music. Tickets are available at the gates for $15 per person over age 13; discount tickets are available online at strawberryfestival.com.